SACP Gauteng holds a seminar calling on Obama Administration to release Cuban Five

11 February 2013, City of Johannesburg

SACP Gauteng Province held a successful seminar to formally re-launch its campaign to free the Cuban Five currently incarcerated in prisons of the Imperialist United States of America currently led by President Barack Obama. It pledged its support and solidarity with the following comrades known as the Cuban Five: Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez, Fernando González, Hernández Nordelo, Ramón Labañino Salazar, Rene González Sehwerert

The Seminar was addressed by the 2nd Deputy General Secretary of the SACP, comrade Solly Mapaila, the Keynote Address was delivered by the newly appointed Cuban Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency, Comrade Carlos Fernandez De Cossio.

Messages of support were received from various organisations, including amongst others, Takalani Mbengeni, Deputy Provincial Secretary of the Young Communist League of South Africa, comrade Chris Mathlako, Member of the 13th National Congress Central Committee and National Chairperson of Friends of Cuba Society (FOCUS), comrade Vuyo Bikitsha of the World Federation of Trade Unions (Africa Office), comrade Patrick Baleka, Convener of Western Sahara Solidarity Front.

The Seminar challenged President Obama to immediately release the Five Cuban revolutionaries who were arrested for their principled and most revolutionary determination to stop terrorist groups that perpetuated and unleashed naked brutal terror against the peace-loving and most humane people of Cuba, descendants of world-renowned revolutionaries such as Jose Marti, Carlos Manuel Cespedes, Antonio Maceo, Vilma Espin and many others.

Seminar resolved that the launch of the Campaign marks the beginning of a series of activities, such as rallies, marches and pickets targeting the American Embassy that will be taking place during the cause of the year and annually on the 11th February 2013.

Seminar further resolved that SACP must convene a Mass Rally as a follow-up activity in solidarity with the Cuban Five on Sunday, 10th March 2013 and also to use the rally to announce a date for the protest march to the American Embassy in Pretoria.

Issued on behalf of the SACP Gauteng Province

Contact: Mamabolo Jacob, Provincial Secretary, 082 884 1868